Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryNovember 25, 2015

Outgoing Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear signed an executive order Tuesday immediately restoring voting rights to more than 100,000 ex-felons convicted of nonviolent offenses. “This disenfranchisement makes no sense,” Beshear, a Democrat, said in his announcement. “It makes no sense because it dilutes the energy of democracy, which functions only if all classes and categories of people have a […]

Mitch PerryNovember 25, 2015

Marco Rubio‘s basic stump speech always features him speaking movingly about his father working hard as a bartender when he first moved to America to provide for his children, in an ode to the American dream. The Rubio campaign is now releasing a television ad featuring Rubio speaking about his father, called, “Bartender.” It’s scheduled […]

Mitch PerryNovember 24, 2015

Republican Dan Bongino, the former Secret Service agent who nearly defeated an incumbent Democrats in race for Congress in Maryland last year, says that he is considering entering the Republican race for Senate in Florida, and will probably make up his mind by the beginning of 2016. Bonging moved to Palm City earlier this year, […]

Mitch PerryNovember 24, 2015

Donald Trump, who continues to dominate in all statewide polls in Florida, said Tuesday that he’s adding four more staff people to his growing campaign team in the Sunshine State. Jennifer R. Locetta will be deputy state director, Ken Mayo has been named director of field operations, John Ross Pughe is joining as the southeast regional field director, and Craig […]

Mitch PerryNovember 24, 2015

Donald Trump leads in Iowa in a Quinnipiac poll released on Tuesday, but barely — and his closest competitor is not Dr. Ben Carson, but Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Trump narrowly leads Cruz, 25-23 percent, a doubling of support for Cruz since the last Quinnipiac poll in Iowa taken last month. Carson is third with […]

Mitch PerryNovember 24, 2015

If you’re a reporter, you didn’t have to be in Jacksonville Monday to learn the details of Gov. Rick Scott‘s $79 billion budget. That’s because the governor’s press office helpfully sent out email after email to highlight aspects of the vast budget throughout the day, where the highlights include $1 billion in tax cuts and cutting […]

Mitch PerryNovember 23, 2015

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, languishing a distant third in the Democratic race for president, will make a rare appearance in Florida next month, at a fundraiser in Miami Beach co-hosted by former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and Rena and Richard Florida. That’s urban development guru and author of “The Rise of the Creative Class,” […]

Mitch PerryNovember 23, 2015

Jeff Brandes is taking another shot at the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission, this time because it hired a lobbyist. The St. Petersburg-based state senator has been calling for the agency’s demise for several years now, in part because it has tried to regulate ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft. Now he wants Attorney General Pam […]

Mitch PerryNovember 23, 2015

There’s been an increasing rise in reforming civil asset forfeiture laws around the country, with conservatives and libertarians (such as the Cato Institute) leading the cause in many cases. Civil asset forfeiture is the legal practice that allows law enforcement officials to seize private property and money that is suspected of aiding, or resulting from, […]

Mitch PerryNovember 23, 2015

In a surprise announcement, Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay is dropping her bid for Congress in Florida’s 18th District. In a statement sent to her supporters, McKinlay, who said she considers herself the front-runner in the Democratic primary to replace Patrick Murphy, said she can’t do her job and compete for the seat now that millionaire businessman […]

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Mitch Perry Report for 11.25.15 — Florida now one of 2 states withholding vote from ex-felons

Marco Rubio new TV ad focuses on his father and the American dream

Former Secret Service agent and Md. Senate candidate Dan Bongino says he’s thinking of entering Florida GOP Senate contest

Donald Trump announces 4 new hires in Florida

Ted Cruz soars to 2nd place behind Donald Trump in new Iowa poll

Mitch Perry Report for 11.24.15 — Did Rick Scott release something Monday?

Martin O’Malley to make rare Florida fundraising stop next month in Miami Beach

Jeff Brandes wants legal opinion about Hillsborough PTC’s lobbying efforts

State report on civil asset forfeiture laws in Florida suggests reforms are needed

Melissa McKinlay drops out of CD18 Democratic primary